The Healthy Harbour Watchers (HHW) programme restarted again this term after the Otago University sponsored programme ran into funding issues in Term 2. Our team of Sienna Wright, Gion Sin, Winny Poon and Phoebe Jacquiery have devoted some Saturday mornings this year to donning gumboots and jackets and collecting water samples and readings from the north side of the harbour. 

Various schools from our city visit sites around both sides of harbour and sample nine places in all. The data has been collected since 2010 and provides a record of changes in over time for pH, salinity, temperature, algae, bacteria and chemicals such as phosphorus, nitrates. The water samples are then taken back to the University laboratories where the students have the chance to experience working in a University laboratory and carry out analytical techniques. This provides a great opportunity to not only serve our community by tracking the health of our harbour but also to extend their Chemistry and Biology skills while working in a team. Thank you to the team who have taken up this opportunity so far this year and also the volunteers who run the programme. 

Kathryn Baker
TIC Healthy Harbour Watchers